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Insight Editions, Universal Pictures and Syncopy are releasing two new books capturing the making and behind-the-scenes of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.”
James Mottham’s book, “Filming the Odyssey: Inside the Making
of Christopher Nolan’s Modern Epic” is out now and includes 280 pages tracing the creation of Nolan’s epic, from script to screen. Interviews with Nolan and the film’s cast and crew dive into the creative process of the film.
In “The Odyssey,” Matt Damon stars as the titular seafaring hero with Anne Hathaway as Odysseus’ wife, Penelope; Tom Holland as their son, Telemachus; Robert Pattinson as Ithacan suitor, Antinous; Zendaya as goddess of wisdom, Athena; and Charlize Theron as goddess of witchcraft, Circe. The enormous cast also includes Lupita Nyong’o, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Himesh Patel, Will Yun Lee, Mia Goth, Jimmy Gonzales, Elliot Page and Travis Scott.
In “Filming the Odyssey: Inside the Making of Christopher Nolan’s Modern Epic,” Holland recalls shooting a scene with an Imax camera. “It was definitely an adjustment period,” he reflects. “I remember my first shot of the movie was a Steadicam shot over my shoulder tracking us through Menelaus’ palace, and I was really, really shocked by the noise of the camera. I remember thinking, ‘Is that what it’s gonna sound like when we shoot our scenes? That’s really distracting.’ And then they brought the blimp out.” Designed to muffle the sound of the Imax camera, the blimp was a revelation for Damon.
In the book, Nolan says of Homer’s poem, “It’s one of the great stories, the great myths, underlying so much in our culture, but it really has never been taken on in a big way in movies. So it felt like with the experience I had at this point of telling large-scale stories — filmmaking on a large scale, combined with technological advances, being able to find a way to shoot the whole film in Imax with visual effects advances — it felt like the right time to take on this story.”
The book also reveals insight into the casting of Zendaya as Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war.
Casting director John Papsidera says, “She plays a goddess, and she walks through life that way.” He adds, “It’s about her presence. She exudes a certain otherworldliness without it being even about her beauty.”
The book also reveals how the actress first heard about the role from her real-life partner, Holland. After he read the script and was offered the role of Telemachus, Holland told her that Nolan wanted to talk to her about a part. “It never crossed my mind that there would be an opportunity where we would both be able to be a part of this,” she says. Struck by Nolan’s interpretation of Athena and his take on Homer, she says, “I just found it very human and very emotional-this story of humanity, of love that never dies, whether it’s the love for your people or your love for your children or your lover.”
An exclusive Barnes and Noble edition will include a cloth custom cover and two 8″ x 10″ frameable art prints.
Mottham’s second book, “The World of the Odyssey,” will be released in September, and is an illustrated companion piece exploring the narrative and characters of Nolan’s epic. It acts as a visual guide to the film — featuring character profiles, key locations and items, and pivotal moments. It includes exclusive quotes from the director, cast, and crew, and a final chapter explaining a little movie magic.
Earlier this week, “The Odyssey” crossed $1 billion in global ticket sales. After just three weeks of release, Christopher Nolan‘s epic generated $430 million domestically and $58 million internationally, crossing the $1 billion mark in total. The film also made film history as the first narrative feature shot entirely with Imax cameras.
Check out the exclusive photos from “Filming the Odyssey: Inside the Making of Christopher Nolan’s Modern Epic” below.
